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Tech coaching improving lives for Arc of Opportunity clients in North Central

Sentinel & Enterprise

Updated:
10/03/2018 08:48:49 AM EDT

Mickey Dower, right, a beneficiary of the Arc of Opportunity of North Central Massachusetts tech coaching program, poses during an open house Tuesday with Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella. SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE/JOHN LOVE

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FITCHBURG -- Mickey Dower spent nine days in the hospital last year away from the Arc of Opportunity residential home where he lives, as he received treatment for congestive heart failure.

Since then, Dower dropped 118 pounds. He was discharged from the hospital, and per doctors' orders, has been monitoring his sodium intake.

It's a task that Dower said is made easier when planning his meals thanks to digital skills gleaned from a "technology coaching center" launched this summer at the Arc of Opportunity of North Central Massachusetts, the nonprofit that supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

"I'm doing much better," he said Tuesday at the Arc of Opportunity at 564 Main St. during an open house with representatives from Comcast/NBCUniversal. "I go on the computer looking at low sodium things... if (sodium) is too high, we won't go to that restaurant."

Dower is one of more than 25 individuals to date who received personalized technology coaching sessions through an about $10,000, three-year grant awarded by Comcast/NBC Universal.

For a second year, the media company awarded grants to support tech coaching services at certain branches of national nonprofit, The Arc, said Becca Fracassa, director of community impact for Comcast.

"The more people we connect to technology the better we can make lives," Fracassa told a crowd gathered at The Arc.

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"We're super proud to be able to do this work through the communities we serve every day."

Fracassa said that in 2014, Comcast launched the $3.7 million grant program to establish "technology centers" at branches of The Arc, which has more than 700 locations in the United States.

The program has so far benefited 11 branches of The Arc. By 2019, the company hopes to grow that number to 19, she said.

Mary Heafy, president and chief executive of The Arc, explained how the technology coaching program works.

She said the individuals are paired with a technology coach who assesses the type of technology -- whether it be browsing the Internet, using job boards or mastering a particular smartphone application -- that could help them lead more independent lives.

The technology coaches spend time working with the individuals as they master new digital skills, said Heafy.

"People with disabilities can be on the margins in so many ways including use of tech and yet using tech can get people connected, transform lives and make a tremendous difference in their health and well-being," she said.

At the open house, several technology coaches explained the tech they teach with a video presentation for members of the audience, which included patrons of The Arc and Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DiNatale and Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella.

From an application that allows a user to snap a photo of written text and listen as the words are read back to them, to a website that helps users develop meal recipes, participants noted several technologies that aided their patrons.

DiNatale commended the technology coaching program and The Arc of Opportunity for the services it provides to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, which Heafy said represent between 20 and 25 percent of the population.

"They continue to do great things with a special population and we couldn't be happier, they're great partners, they provide a great service," he said.

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